Students, school district reach agreement in Bible-sharing controversy

Students, school district reach agreement in Bible-sharing controversy

WGAL News 8

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Updated: 5:15 PM EST Feb 22, 2019

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WEBVTT JEREMY ACCORDINGO T LUMINARY INJUNIOCT ORDER, -- PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ORDER BOTH THE SCHOOL AND THE WLA , CENTER REPRESENTING THE STUDENTS HAVE 45 DAYS TO WORK TOGETHER AND CREATE POLICY THAT DOESN’T INFRINGE ON STUDENTS FREEDOM OF SPEECH. INDEPENDENCE LAW CENTER SENIOR COUNSELOR JEREMY SAMEK RELEASED A STATEMENT TO WGAL THAT SS.AY -- THAT SAYS -- WE’RE GLAD THAT THE SCHOOL HAS AGREED TO WORK WITH US, IN LINE WITH THE COURT ORDER, TO REWRITE EITH UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICIES AND THAT THE STUDENTS IN THE CHRISTIANS IN ACTION CLUB ARE NOW FREE TO OFFER BLBIES TO CLASSMATES IN THE CAFETERIA. NEWA STATEMENT HAS BEEN RELEASED CONFIRMING THEY ARE JOINTLY WORKING TOGETHER TO DILIGENTLY CREATE A REVISED PROCED

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Students, school district reach agreement in Bible-sharing controversy

An agreement has been reached in the case of a school Christian club that sued the Mechanicsburg Area School District after members were told they couldn't hand out Bibles during lunchtime.According to a preliminary injunction order, school officials and attorneys with the law center representing students have 45 days to work together and create policy that doesn't infringe on students' freedom of speech.Jeremy Samek, of the Independence Law Center, released a statement that said, "We're glad that the school has agreed to work with us, in line with the court order, to rewrite their unconstitutional policies and that the students in the Christians in Action club are now free to offer Bibles to classmates in the cafeteria." The injunction states that, if both parties are satisfied with the new policy, the claims against the district and its superintendent will be dropped, effective 60 days after the order.The school district and law center released the following joint statement:"The Mechanicsburg Area School District and Independence Law Center jointly confirm that the parties are diligently working together to revise procedures involving student expression and distribution of materials. We are committed to this respectful and ongoing process to collaboratively replace the enjoined procedures with procedures that respect all students' rights. Once finalized, the new procedures will be made available to the school community. As this is an ongoing matter in active discussions, no final decisions have been made at this time."

According to a preliminary injunction order, school officials and attorneys with the law center representing students have 45 days to work together and create policy that doesn't infringe on students' freedom of speech.

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Jeremy Samek, of the Independence Law Center, released a statement that said, "We're glad that the school has agreed to work with us, in line with the court order, to rewrite their unconstitutional policies and that the students in the Christians in Action club are now free to offer Bibles to classmates in the cafeteria."

The injunction states that, if both parties are satisfied with the new policy, the claims against the district and its superintendent will be dropped, effective 60 days after the order.

The school district and law center released the following joint statement:

"The Mechanicsburg Area School District and Independence Law Center jointly confirm that the parties are diligently working together to revise procedures involving student expression and distribution of materials. We are committed to this respectful and ongoing process to collaboratively replace the enjoined procedures with procedures that respect all students' rights. Once finalized, the new procedures will be made available to the school community. As this is an ongoing matter in active discussions, no final decisions have been made at this time."